Ash-receiving attachment for restaurant tables



Dec. 12, 1939. c. N. PALEOLOGOS ASH-RECEIVING ATTACHMENT FOR RESTAURANT TABLES Fil ed Jan. 6, 1959 chm nu;

Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE ASH-RECEIVING ATTACHMENT FOR Application January 6,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to ash receptacles for use in conjunction with restaurant tables, and it has for its object to provide a simple and economical attachment for such tables by means of which annoyance and loss to the restaurant proprietor may be avoided and a high degree of sanitation may be maintained.

The peculiar conditions surrounding the use of ash trays in conjunction with tables upon which food is being served and eaten, and the highly efiicient manner in which my invention meets the necessities of those conditions, will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a plan view of the cover of the receptacle;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a part of a table top having the invention applied thereto, with the ash receptacle removed;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon line 33 of Fig. 2, with the ash receptacle in place;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view upon line l-4 of Fig. 2, with the ash receptacle in place;

Fig. 5 is a perspective ash receptacle, and

Fig. 6 is an underside perspective view of the coverof Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 5 designates the table top to which the device of the present invention is applied. While I have illustrated this member as being formed of a single piece, such for example, as a board, it is to be understood that the invention may be used in conjunction with any of the conventional table tops now being placed upon the market and which table tops are made of many different kinds of composition materials, sometimes in a single piece, as shown in the drawings, and sometimes as laminated structures comprising more than one material.

Whatever the composition of the table top, it is provided with a rectangular opening 6, into which the ash receptacle 1 may be dropped. This ash receptacle is provided with out-turned flanges 8 50 along its opposite sides, which are adapted to overlie and be supported upon the longitudinally extending ribs 9, which are disposed along the opposite sides of the opening 6.

This ash receptacle carries cigarette or cigar supporting concave projections it, which extend view of the removable 1939, Serial No. 249,669

from the opposite sides of the receptacle 1 and serve the double function of supporting cigarettes and of providing handles beneath which the first and second fingers of the hand may be hooked to lift the receptacle out of the opening 6 when it is desired to empty and clean the same.

A flat, plate-like cover H is dimensioned to fit snugly within the upper portion of the opening 6 and is of such thickness that, with the receptacle i in place and with the cover ll resting upon the flanges 8 of the receptacle, the upper face of the plate ll lies exactly flush with the top of the table.

The cover H is adapted to be swung from the full-line position of Fig. 2 to the dotted line position. When swung to the dotted-line or open position, its lower end rests upon the inturned feet l2 of angle brackets. These brackets comprise the webs l3 and M. The webs M are secured by screws or other suitable fastening devices E5 to the conventional rails E6 of the table top. The angular formation of the brackets renders it possible to construct them of relatively cheap sheet metal and still have them strong enough to support and guide the cover I l.

The cover I! is provided with hooks ll at one of its ends and adjacent its corners, and the ends of the ribs 9 are rounded oif as indicated at 9* to enter and, in conjunction with said hooks, to provide a hinge action for the cover ll. When the cover is drawn upwardly from the dotted line position of Fig. 2 to the full-line position of said figure, the hooks ll engage the rounded ends 9 of ribs 9 and rock upon the ends of said ribs to constitute a hinge which is so positioned as to guide the cover in its closing movement into close-fitting registry with the opening ('3.

By referring to Fig. i, it will be seen that as long as the ash receptacle 1 is in place, it lies in front of the cover H and in such position that said cover cannot accidentally move forward and slip off of the feet l2. At this time, the receptacle '1 lies between the hooks ll, and cover ll may be drawn upwardly without interference by receptacle 7 to bring its hooks ll into engagement with the ends of the ribs 9 and thus effect a closing of the cover even while receptacle 1 is in position upon the ribs 9.

These ribs 9 may be integral with the table top 3- 5, or they may be separate elements held in place by screws 9 Further, the ribs 9 need not extend the full length of the opening 6. It is only necessary that means be provided for supporting the cover II, which means are of such a na- 55 ture as to coact with the cover in providing a hinge action between the two, the whole being so arranged that when the lid or cover is closed, its upper surface will lie flush with the top of the table and its peripheral edges will fit snugly in the opening 6.

The necessity for such an assembly and relationship of parts will be readily appreciated after a consideration of the following facts: Smoking, upon the part of both men and women, has now become an established practice, and the first thing a patron calls for upon taking a seat at a restaurant table is an ash tray. Where loose and uncovered ash trays are provided, any slight gust of wind, either from out of doors or from a fan, is likely to blow cigarette ashes into the food that is being served.

It is the daily experience of restaurant keepers that they have to replace pats of butter, glasses of drinking water, pitchers of cream, and like service items which have had cigarette ashes blown into them during the wait between the giving of the order by the patron and the time at which the meal is served. By providing an ash tray seated completely below the surface of the table and provided with means for maintaining the lighted cigarette below the level of the table top, much of the foregoing annoyance and loss is prevented.

Any receptacle for cigarette or cigar stumps employed in conjunction with a restaurant table must be of such a nature that it may be easily and quickly emptied and cleaned. Cigar and cigarette butts so quickly become foul-smelling that it is essential that they be disposed of at frequent intervals, and busy waiters can do this only if the construction is such as to permit the very easy and quick removal of the ash receptacles.

Further, the construction must be such that the ash receptacles at those places at the table that are not occupied, will not project above the surface of the table. In other words, they must, when not in use, lie so absolutely flush with the surface of the table that the waiter or busboy may wipe the surface of the table without interference by these ash receptacles. Further, they must lie flush so that dishes may be slid over them without interference.

In addition, it is essential that the construction be such that food particles cannot find lodgement in any part of the apparatus. It is for that reason that the arrangement of the hooks I? to give the necessary hinge action without exposing any hinge element at the surface of the table, becomes of importance.

Some recessed receptacles used upon card tables and the like have been provided with conventional hinged covers, the hinges being exposed at the surface of the table. It is clear that with food particles being continually spilled upon the surface of the table and being wiped from the surface of the table by the waiter or busboy, any hinge exposed at the surface of the table would quickly become clogged with food particles, difficult of removal and with the consequent creation of unsanitary conditions.

The distance between the ends of the ribs 9 and the confronting end of the recess 6 is less than the distance between the outer face of the cover it and the tips of the hooks l1. Consequently, it is not possible to withdraw the cover or lid completely from the opening 6 by a direct vertical movement of the lid.

This is a feature of importance because it has been found that souvenir hunters are likely to carry away any loose small articles. This is especially the case if the articles happen to be in any degree ornamental. Since it is one of the advantages of the present invention that the attractiveness of the table as a whole may be enhanced by suitable ornamentation of these covers, the necessity of guarding against their being stolen will be apparent.

When it is desired to open the lid, a pressure upon the right-hand end of the lid in Fig. 2 will cause the left-hand end to rise enough to permit the grasping of the free edge by the user so that the cover can be swung to the dotted line position of Fig. 2. Instruction so as to press may be imprinted upon the cover as illustrated in Fig. 1.

While I have referred to the top 5 as being a restaurant table top, I have done this merely to emphasize the fact that many of the features of my invention look to the maintenance of complete sanitation and consequently are of particular importance in conjunction with a structure upon which food is being served. Consequently, it is to be understood that the term "restaurant tables is to be construed as being generic and to apply to the tops of tables used in booths, and in fact, any food-supporting surface for restaurants, luncheonettes, hotel dining rooms, coffee shops, club houses, road houses, waiting rooms or the like. Further, while the device of the invention is of particular utility in conjunction with tables upon which food is served, it is also of utility in any place where a completely flush surface is desired over an ash receptacle, such for example as upon office desks.

While the particular arrangement herein shown and described is well adapted to serve the purposes hereinbefore outlined as being desirable in the production of a practicable article, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise mechanical arrangement but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. The combination with a horizontal table top having an opening formed therethrough and having longitudinally extending, inwardly projecting ribs along the opposite sides of said opening, Which ribs terminate short of one end of said opening, of an ash receptacle adapted to be seated in said opening and provided with means adapted to hook over and be supported upon said ribs, a lid so dimensioned that when closed and resting upon the hooked over means of the ash receptacle its top lies flush with the table top, and hooks adjacent the corners of the lid at one end thereof, said hooks projecting from the inner face of the lid and in a position to engage over the ends of said ribs, the said ribs being shaped to coact with said books in the formation of a hinge connection between the lid and the ribs.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1, in combination with vertical brackets carrying inwardly projecting feet upon which the lower end of the lid is adapted to rest when in open position.

3. A structure as recited in claim 1, in combination with means supported from the table top and comprising portions adapted to underlie and receive and support the lower end of the lid when the lid is in open and vertical position, the said receptacle being of a width to lie between said hooks so that the lid, with its hooks, may

be drawn upwardly to be swung to closed position without interference by said receptacle.

4. The combination with a table top having an opening formed therethrough, of a pair of spaced guide brackets located at the opposite sides of said opening and at one end thereof, the lower ends of said brackets being provided with inturned feet projecting toward each other, supports disposed along the side walls of the opening, an ash receptacle having flanges adapted to overlie said supports, a cover fitting snugly within the opening of the table and of such a thickness as to lie flush with the top of the table when in closed position, said supports terminating short of that end of the opening at which the brackets are located a sufficient distance to leave an opening through which the cover may be tipped downwardly to lie in a vertical position with its lower end supported upon the feet of the brackets.

5. The combination with a table top having an opening formed therethrough, of supports disposed adjacent said opening for supporting an ash receptacle, an ash receptable having projecting members adapted to engage said supports, a cover fitting snugly within said opening, of a thickness to lie flush with the top of the table when said cover is in closed position, the ash receptacle being enough shorter than the opening in the table top to permit the cover to be tipped to upright position and slid downwardly through the opening of the table top at one end of the ash receptacle, and supports upon which the lower end of the cover rests when in such upright position.

6. The combination with a table top having an opening formed therethrough, of supports disposed adjacent said opening for supporting an ash receptacle, an ash receptacle having projecting members adapted to engage said supports, a cover fitting snugly within said opening, of a thickness to lie flush with the top of the table when said cover is in closed position, the ash receptacle being enough shorter than the opening in the table top to permit the cover to be tipped to upright position and slid downwardly through the opening of the table top at one end of the ash receptacle, supports upon which the lower end of the cover rests when in such upright position, and guiding means associated with the lastnamed supports for guiding the cover in its movement to a position of rest upon said supports.

7. The combination with a table top having an opening formed therethrough, of supports disposed adjacent said opening for supporting an ash receptacle, an ash receptacle having projecting members adapted to engage said supports, a cover fitting snugly within said opening, of a thickness to lie flush with the top of the table when said cover is in closed position, the ash receptacle being enough shorter than the opening in the table top to permit the cover to be tipped to upright position and slid downwardly through the opening of the table top at one end of the ash receptacle, and a pair of elongated angle brackets supported from the table top and disposed upon opposite sides of the cover so that the cover may be slid downwardly between them, said brackets carrying inwardly directed projections at their lower ends constituting a support for the lower end of the cover when said cover is moved to vertical or open position.

8. A structure as recited in claim 1, in combination with cigarette supporting members disposed at the upper edges of and projecting inwardly from the opposite sides of the ash receptacle, in such position that when the fingers of the user are hooked beneath said members, the ash receptacle will be so balanced that it may be lifted by said members from the opening in the table top.

CHRISTIE NICHOLS PALEOLOGOS. 

